Frame for gliders and the like



Nov. 16, 1937. .1. M. VALLONE FRAME FOR GLIDERS AND THE LIKE 7 Filed Jan. 25 1936 /2 m M Q l/VVE/VTOR.

4 3 all/WU) ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 16, 1937 PATENT OFFICE FRAME FOR omnsas AND THE LIKE Joseph M. Vallone, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Barcalo' Manufacturing- Company, Buffalo,

Application January 25, 1936, Serial No. 60,875 3 Claims. ,(01. -129) This invention relates to improvements in the supporting frames of gliders or swinging couches of that type which, as commonly constructed,

comprise a stationary supporting frame having end standards or uprights from which the couch seat is suspended to swing'back and forth between the standards, as by swinging links at the ends of the seat connected at their'upper ends to and hanging from the top portions of the end ards are held rigidly in their operative upright tions and vice versa; in which the folding end positions but are joined to the connecting frame member so that they can be readily swung from their operative upright positions to foldedposistandards and their connecting frame member are joined by novel braces which permit the standards to'be quickly and easily moved from their operative to their folded positions and vice versa without the disconnection of any parts, but which hold the end standards rigid in their operative positions; and which has the other features of improvement and advantage hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an and elevation of a supporting frame embodying my invention and indicating by broken lines the swinging couch seat and its suspending links.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, broken, front elevation of the frame showing one of the standards in its upright operative position and the other standard in a partially folded position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view thereof, enlarged, on line 33, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional elevation thereof on line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of the lower portion of an end standard of slightly modified form. V

The seat supporting frame comprises opposite, vertical end standards or upright end frame portions I0 and a longitudinal frame member II extending between and connecting the two standards. Each end standard, as illustrated in the drawing, comprises a forwardly and rearwardly extending base bar I2, which may be an angle iron provided with downwardly offset feet I3 at its opposite ends, a central upright post I4, preferably of channel shaped cross section, which is rigidly attached at its lower end to the middle portion of the base bar I2, and a horizontal top barl5 parallel with the base bar, and which may be an angle iron rigidly attached, as by riveting, to the upper end of the post I4;

As shown in Figs 1-4, the post [4 is formed by a channel bar having parallel, inwardly extending side flanges, and is riveted to the base bar I2 with a gusset plate I6 riveted to the base bar and post for strengthening the connection. The s'tandardmay be of other suitable construction. For example, Fig. 5-shows a slightly modified form in which the channel post Man is ofchannel shape but tapers from its lower end upwardly, its wide lower end being riveted to'the vertical flange of the angle bar I2. This formation of the post avoids the necessity for the gusset plate, and the web of this post is also preferably formed with an' embossed panel I"! which, together with the tapered form of the post, gives the same a more attractive appearance. o

The longitudinal frame member II, as shown, consistsof an angle bar arranged with one flange thereof extending vertically upward, and the end standards are hinged to the opposite ends of this member, preferably by angle brackets I8 which are rigidly attached, as by riveting, to the lower ends of the posts, project inwardly therefrom and are pivoted at I9 to the ends of the longitudinal member. Each end standard is thus adapted to be folded or swung inwardly and downwardly to a position above and substantially parallel with the longitudinal member. When the end standards are swung up to the upright supporting position, the base bars I 2 of the standards will rest upon and be supported by the floor.

Each end standard is connected to the adjacent portion of the longitudinal frame member I I by a jointed or toggle brace which preferably comprises two pairs of links and 2| hinged together at the. knee of the brace with links 20 hinged at their other ends to the member II, and the links 2| hinged at their outer ends to the end standard. The links 20 are arranged at opposite sides of and pivoted, as by a rivet 22, to the vertical flange of the member I I, and the links 2 I, which diverge from the knee of the brace, are pivoted at their outer ends, as by rivets 23, to the side flanges 24 of the standard post. The two links 20 bear and move against opposite faces of the vertical flange of the member II, and the inner ends of these links 20 are pivoted between the adjacent ends of the other links 2|, by a single pin or rivet 25 passing through the several links. The holes in the links 29 for the knee pivot 25 are preferably punched so as toform protruding lips 26 at the inner sides of the links, which lips abut against each other as shown in Fig. 4. The lips thus provide spacing means to keep the links parallel and form a stop adapted to engage the upper edge of the vertical flange of the longitudinal member I I to limit the downward bending of the knee of the brace. The parts of the brace are so proportioned and positioned that when the standard is in its normal supporting position, the brace will be bent downwardly just beyond a dead center position, with the stop lips 26 engaging the edge of the longitudinal member I I, so that the standard cannot swing inwardly or downwardly except by breaking the knee joint of the brace upwardly. The brace thus serves to hold the end standard rigid in its upright supporting position and prevent accidental inward or folding movement thereof.

Since the suspension links (indicated by broken lines at 21 in Fig. 1) for the swinging seat are arranged at the inner sides of the end standards or between the same and the ends of the seat, and are connected at their upper ends to the top bars I5 of the standards, the weight of the seat on the links tends somewhat to pull the upper ends of the standards inwardly and thus press the knee joint of the brace more firmly against the edge of the longitudinal member II, as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 2, but as the knee joint of the brace cannot move downwardly, because of the engagement of the stop lips 26 with the member H, the brace Will act to hold the end standards rigid in their upright position. Furthermore, since the links 20 of the braces bear flat against the opposite faces of the vertical flange of the longitudinal member H,they are held thereby from swinging or moving'laterally, thus adding to the rigidity of the connections between. the standards and their connecting frame member I I, and increasing the stability of the frame.

I claim as my invention:

1. A folding frame for gliders and the like comprising an end standard having a channel post with inwardly directed side flanges, and a central longitudinal member to which the standard is connected to fold towards the longitudinal member and which longitudinal member has an upstanding vertical flange, and a brace between the standard and the longitudinal member for holding the standard upright, said brace comprising a pair of parallel links pivoted to said vertical flange of the longitudinal member at opposite sides thereof and bearing flat against said opposite sides throughout a substantial portion of the length of the links, and a second pair of links jointed to said first links and diverging therefrom towards and pivoted to said sidev flanges of the standard post.

I 2. A folding frame for gliders and the like comprising a standard and a flanged frame member to which the standard is connected to fold towards said frame member, and a jointed brace between said standard and frame member for holding the standard upright, said brace comprising a pair of links arranged against opposite faces of and pivoted to said frame member flange, and spacing means for said links at the brace joint adapted to engage the edge of said flange to limit the bending of the brace joint towards said frame member.

3. A folding frame for gliders and the like comprising a standard and a flanged frame member to which the standard is connected tofold towards said frame member, and a jointed brace between said standard and frame member for holding the standard upright, said brace comprising-a pair of links arranged against opposite. faces of and pivoted to said frame member flange, and spacing abutments on the inner sides of said links at the brace joint adapted to engage the edge of said flange to limit the bending of the brace joint towards said frame member.

JOSEPH M. VALLONE. 

